Again Uruguay no goals. Once again in dry dock. September and October went by for the sky blue without being able to convert. In this return of the South American Qualifiers in 2024, they were left at zero against Paraguay in Montevideo, Venezuela in Maturín, Peru in Lima last Friday and now Ecuador again at the Centennial. He returned to leaving points at home and although third in the table, he is experiencing a worrying present.
Marcelo Bielsa made an almost complete eleven, because he had the return of Josema Giménez and Matias Olivera at the back, and once again he was able to count on Darwin Nuñez on offense, due to the decision of the TAS to suspend the execution of his five-game sentence. With Pellistri and Maxi Araújo at the extremes, plus Ugarte and De Arrascaeta in the middle. But again, it wasn’t enough.
In the first half the light blue set the pace. The blow of Friday’s defeat against Peru had its effect. Fede Valverde took center stage, scoring a great assist for Darwin, a free kick that almost scored, and another very hard and almost perfect right hand. Uruguay had six scoring chances, but failed to convert.
Bielsa’s team bit every ball, turned the game towards Galíndez’s goal, had rhythm, dominated, but the ‘but’ was in the aim. They went to half-time with 0-0.
Bielsa still has credit, but Uruguay whistled at his team
In the second half it fell, and Ecuador grew. The team felt the effort of the first half, they needed changes to refresh the offense, but Bielsa chose not to put anyone on the bench. The coach’s explanation later in a press conference was that he did not want to expose the young people at a difficult time for the team. But then, who appointed them, who placed them as substitutes, who pushed the exit process of the most veterans if not the Rosario coach who directs Uruguay?
Ecuador dominated the end, and calmly watched the final minutes, while rescuing a valuable draw as a visitor at the Centenario in Montevideo.
Read also
At the end, the whistles. It had been years since the celestial had received whistles from the stands. Uruguay remains third in the table, but is closing the gap with those chasing it. Marcelo Bielsa has support from the fans and maintains credit. But like all credit, if it is not nourished, it becomes extinct.
